Interval House Shelter

The event: The 21st annual Le Bal des Papillons (the Ball of the Butterflies), a black-tie gala at the Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point on Saturday benefiting the Interval House shelter for victims of domestic violence in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Merriment: More than 400 guests descended the hotel's garlanded main staircase to enjoy the strains of a string quartet, a champagne reception and travel-themed silent auction.

The event: The 21st annual Le Bal des Papillons (the Ball of the Butterflies), a black-tie gala at the Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point on Saturday benefiting the Interval House shelter for victims of domestic violence in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Merriment: More than 400 guests descended the hotel's garlanded main staircase to enjoy the strains of a string quartet, a champagne reception and travel-themed silent auction.

The YWCA of North Orange County will award silver medallions to six Orange County women for their achievements in six categories: - Evelyn Bauman of Fullerton for volunteer community service. Bauman, a mountain climber, is being honored for helping found the Fullerton Children's League, Fullerton Cooperative Nursery School and Fullerton Friends of Music. A supporter of Cal State Fullerton, she serves on its President's Advisory Board. She is a past president of the YWCA of North Orange County.

Fifteen-year-old Vadim Kovalchuk pulls back an imaginary hunter's bow, releases and shoots down an imaginary game bird. He reaches for the ground, holds an imaginary knife and uses it to prepare the kill for cooking. Crouched on a makeshift stage before a group of friends and family who are there to see the culmination of a 10-week acting class for victims of domestic violence, Vadim joyfully chomps on his prize and the crowd erupts in applause.

The event: Le Bal des Papillons (Ball of the Butterflies), a black-tie gala celebrating the metamorphosis of women who have escaped domestic violence and found independence through the Interval House shelter. The 18th annual celebrity ball for the shelter took place Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Dana Point. Butterflies are free: Shelter volunteers play an active role in staging the gala. About 30 of the women circulating among the 350 guests were current and former shelter residents.

Golf Clubbing The Huntington Harbor League of Interval House--a temporary shelter for battered women and their children--held its fifth annual golf tournament Monday at the Seacliff Country Club in Huntington Beach. About 100 golfers (and a few self-designated "hackers") showed up for mid-morning registration despite high winds, storm clouds massed overhead and a few ominous raindrops.

In costumes ranging from a stylish gown worn the night the Titanic sank to a girlish pinafore worn by Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," Orange County society got into the masquerade act on Saturday at three Halloween galas staged on behalf of local charities.

The night was special indeed for the 450 guests who attended the $100-per-person, black-tie "Renaissance Ball" Saturday night at the Four Seasons in Newport Beach to benefit the Interval House shelter for victims of domestic violence. Certainly, it was celebrity-studded. Actress Charlotte Rae and former Gov. Edmund G. (Pat) Brown dined with guests. But the real stars were Interval House "graduates"--women who expressed thanks for the chance to escape the cycle of domestic physical abuse.

With her husband's fingers clutching her throat, Maria Mercado felt she had lost her last chance to escape. For a year, off and on, she had tried to leave her abusive husband. But every time she called battered women's shelters in Los Angeles and Orange counties for help, the mother of two was told she would have to go elsewhere because they didn't have Spanish-speaking staff members.

They were more accustomed to seeing one another in the drab starkness of a Los Angeles courthouse, as the so-called Trial of the Century reached its stunning conclusion. On Saturday night, they were together again, this time at a luxury hotel awash with black ties and glittering evening gowns. Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti and the family of Nicole Brown Simpson were attending a benefit gala for Interval House, which runs shelters for battered women and their children.

The event: Le Bal des Papillons (French for "Ball of the Butterflies"), a black-tie dinner benefiting Interval House Crisis Shelters for victims of domestic violence. Saturday's gala took place at the Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point. Hear them roar: Guests were greeted by about a dozen women in glamorous gowns--all survivors of domestic violence who had transformed their lives, thanks to Interval House.

With her husband's fingers clutching her throat, Maria Mercado felt she had lost her last chance to escape. For a year, off and on, she had tried to leave her abusive husband. But every time she called battered women's shelters in Los Angeles and Orange counties for help, the mother of two was told she would have to go elsewhere because they didn't have Spanish-speaking staff members.

The event: Le Bal des Papillons (Ball of the Butterflies), a black-tie gala celebrating the metamorphosis of women who have escaped domestic violence and found independence through the Interval House shelter. The 18th annual celebrity ball for the shelter took place Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Dana Point. Butterflies are free: Shelter volunteers play an active role in staging the gala. About 30 of the women circulating among the 350 guests were current and former shelter residents.

They were more accustomed to seeing one another in the drab starkness of a Los Angeles courthouse, as the so-called Trial of the Century reached its stunning conclusion. On Saturday night, they were together again, this time at a luxury hotel awash with black ties and glittering evening gowns. Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti and the family of Nicole Brown Simpson were attending a benefit gala for Interval House, which runs shelters for battered women and their children.

Adele Faulkner Quinn has been described as an 83-year-old "dynamo" who lives up to the true meaning of "volunteer." For the past decade, Quinn has devoted most of her time to Interval House crisis shelters for battered women and children. "Adele is an inspiration to all of us," said Janine Limas, a former shelter resident who is now the shelter's liaison services director. "She's kind of like a mom to all of us."

Slowly emerging from their seclusion, the family of Nicole Brown Simpson made a brief appearance Saturday night at a charity ball to raise awareness about domestic violence. "Abused women is something that is a current topic," said Lou Brown, Nicole Simpson's father. "And we are here to let you know we believe in it and the family supports it in every way. And that's all we have to say."

Adele Faulkner Quinn has been described as an 83-year-old "dynamo" who lives up to the true meaning of "volunteer." For the past decade, Quinn has devoted most of her time to Interval House crisis shelters for battered women and children. "Adele is an inspiration to all of us," said Janine Limas, a former shelter resident who is now the shelter's liaison services director. "She's kind of like a mom to all of us."

Fifteen-year-old Vadim Kovalchuk pulls back an imaginary hunter's bow, releases and shoots down an imaginary game bird. He reaches for the ground, holds an imaginary knife and uses it to prepare the kill for cooking. Crouched on a makeshift stage before a group of friends and family who are there to see the culmination of a 10-week acting class for victims of domestic violence, Vadim joyfully chomps on his prize and the crowd erupts in applause.

Interval House, which operates crisis shelters for battered women and their children, will mark its 15th anniversary by holding a pseudo-event, the "No Show Dinner Dance." Supporters are invited to stay home Friday rather than being subjected to "boring speeches," a "rubber-chicken dinner" and "an elevator-music band." Donations will help Interval House provide services for domestic violence victims.

In costumes ranging from a stylish gown worn the night the Titanic sank to a girlish pinafore worn by Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," Orange County society got into the masquerade act on Saturday at three Halloween galas staged on behalf of local charities.